PREVALENCE OF OSTEOARTHRITIS IN URBAN POPULATION

The most common cause of knee pain and disability especially in elderly is known as osteoarthritis. It is most crippling disease considered in both developed and under developed countries. Knee osteoarthritis is characterized by disability and pain which occurs due to the articular cartilage and soft tissue surrounding the joint. It results in muscle weakness, synovial joint inflammation and articular damage which causes pain and decreases the ability of activity of daily livings. In 2040 approximately 78 million adults aged 18 or older of US would have diagnosed by arthritis. The most common rheumatologic disorder in Asian region is considered non-specific low back pain and osteoarthritis. There is 28% prevalence of osteoarthritis in Pakistan urban areas whereas in rural areas there is 25% prevalence. Most commonly affected joints are large weight bearing joints such as joints and hip joints. Out of both knee arthritis is more prevalent than hip arthritis. It was a cross sectional. The data collection was limited to urban population only. The margin of error was 5% with confidence interval 95%. The sample was conducted on the bases of inclusion criteria through consecutive sampling technique. Total 130 participants were included in the study. The mean age of the sample was 51.28 ± 8.987 years. The most persistent co-morbidities in the sample were 66% HTN, 38% DM, 29% dyslipidemia, 28% IHD and 48% obese patients. A study conducted in 2005 has also shown some smilar results that co morbidities linked with knee arthritis were type II diabetes mellitus (15%), hypertension in (53%), obesity (22%), osteoporosis (21%) and obstructive pulmonary disease (13%) The study has concluded that women having age more than 45 had regular hospital visit because of knee arthritis. The main contributing factors are age, gender, obesity, BMI, and level of HB